Make Way for the Americans!

Nicole Hughes January 16, 2008 | 11:57 am EST

While other industrialized nations seem to be in a bit of a birthing slump, 4.3 million American births were reported in 2006, the largest number since 1961. Studies show that the United States has a higher fertility rate than all of continental Europe, Japan, Canada and Australia. But more people also means more kids. While birthrates have increased in multiple racial and ethnic groups in the US, a rapidly growing Hispanic population has resulted in a quarter of the 2006 births belonging to Hispanic parents. Unfortunately, other major factors related to the higher birth rates aren’t attributed to exemplary causes - they include a drop in access to abortion, poor education, poverty, a decline in contraceptive use and an increase in teen pregnancy.

Teen pregnancy is linked to other critical social issues including poverty and income disparity, and child welfare. Teenpregnancy.org is working toward bringing teens balanced information on both abstinence and contraceptive use. Click here to take action: